Most of the 101 citations included in this annotated bibliography on simulation and gaming were derived from a search of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) indexes. Entries were published between 1972 and 1975. The bibliography is divided into nine sections: theory and research; social studies materials; environment, land use, and…

This discussion of teaching science as a design activity emphasizes open-ended problem solving. Highlights include the relationship between teachers and students; hypotheses as solutions; and descriptions of four microworlds, or computer simulations, in chemistry, geography, physiology, and genetics which use graphic interfaces. (LRW)

Describes three studies which explored the use of computer assisted instruction with mildly handicapped secondary school students. Comparisons with non-handicapped students are made in vocabulary development, using drill and practice; concept instruction in elementary logic, using a tutorial approach; and problem solving in health education, using…

Reviews two software packages, "Solutions Unlimited" and "BASIC Data Base System." Provides a description, summary, strengths and weaknesses, availability and costs. Includes reviews of three structured BASIC packages: "True BASIC (2.0)"; "Turbo BASIC (1.0)"; and "QuickBASIC (3.0)." Explains…

Reports on research designed to systematically examine how the use of personalized word problems as practice examples would affect learning and attitudes. A computer program was used to generate the problems. It was concluded that presenting problems in familiar contexts made materials more interesting and understandable for students. (PK)

Provides reviews of four educational software packages which deal with problem solving, mathematics, history, and reading comprehension. Includes information about appropriate hardware, grade level, the publisher and purchasing. Contains comments about the strengths and weaknesses of each program. (TW)

Argues that Turtle Geometry has a great deal to offer mathematics teaching and learning. Suggests that it helps develop general problem-solving strategies and encourages new approaches to teaching and learning. (PK)

Describes the Minnesota Education Computing Corporation (MECC) Computing and Information Collection, a collection of software products for students in grades 4-12. These products are designed to support individual course content objectives and introduce and practice information literacy skills. Curriculum applications in language arts,…

This study looked at the effect of contextual advisement and competition on transfer of mathematics skills in a computer-based instructional simulation game and simulation in which game participants helped their "aunt and uncle" fix up a house. Competition referred to whether or not the participant was playing against a computer…

Computer-delivered, case-based instruction can provide medical students with valuable clinical diagnostic experiences before encountering real patients. Diagnosis requires physicians to understand and use causal reasoning for prediction. Such reasoning may be scaffolded in the design of computerized learning environments. Scaffolding of causal…

Summarizes 14 mathematics word-problem-solving intervention studies for elementary and secondary students with disabilities or who were at-risk for math failure. Interventions included representational techniques (diagramming), strategy-training procedures (cognitive and metacognitive), task variations (sequencing and word-problem context), and…

Examine students' motivational orientation (intrinsic/extrinsic) during problem-based learning (PBL), comparing it to their orientation during typical class activities. Participants were regular education students who used "Alien Rescue," a computer-based PBL program designed for sixth grade science. Implications of the findings for…

Twenty learning-handicapped and 20 nonhandicapped intermediate-grade children worked on a mathematics problem-solving task on a microcomputer. Their social and instructional interactions were compared as group configuration (individual, homogeneous dyad, and heterogeneous dyad) and task difficulty changed. The computer's effect on the conversation…

Describes a study that examined the effect of computer programing experience on the mathematical problem solving achievement of high school students. The variables studied are discussed, including gender, ability, socioeconomic status, prior math experience, and access to a home computer, and a path analysis model is explained. (34 references)…

Discusses cooperative problem solving among Open University physics and math students and describes three studies that investigated how to design effective computer-based support for collaborative learning in distance education. The value of peer interaction for learning and problem solving is discussed, and students' attitudes to group work are…